X-Ray

Eat and drink and take any medication as usual beforehand, unless you are having a specialist X-ray in which case you will be provided with the correct information when booking. You may be asked to wear a gown to prevent your clothing from obstructing the images. Your radiographer will advise whether this is necessary at your appointment.

X-rays are a type of radiation that can pass through your body. They cannot be seen by the human eye and you can’t feel them.

As they pass through the body, the energy from X-rays is absorbed at different rates by different parts of the body.

A detector on the other side of the body picks up the X-rays after they have passed through and turns them into an image.

X-rays can be used to examine most areas of the body. They are mainly used to look at the bones and joints, although they are sometimes used to detect problems affecting soft tissue, such as internal organs.

Please allow 20-30 minutes for your appointment. It is useful to arrive 10 mins before your allotted time, in case you need to change into a gown.

Your x-ray appointment should last from between 5 to 20 minutes. Depending on what area of your body is to be imaged. You may be asked to change into a gown. The Radiographer will call you into the room, explain what will happen, and ensure you are happy to proceed.

All x-ray examinations are different, you may be asked to stand against a frame, lie down on the x-ray table, or sit in a chair close to the table. You will also be asked to stay very still and hold your position for a few seconds. Certain x-ray examinations require more than one image to be taken and some require a short breath hold. The Radiographer will take the x-ray from behind a screen but will be able to hear and see you at all times.

After the X-ray a radiologist will review your image and write a report. The results will be available to yourself and your clinician usually within 7 days of your appointment.
Your referring practitioner will be in touch once your results are available.

People are often concerned about being exposed to radiation during an X-ray. The benefits and risks of having an X-ray will be weighed up before it is recommended. Talk to your doctor or Radiographer beforehand if you have any concerns. Radiation is a normal part of our everyday lives. This is called natural background radiation.

Natural background radiation comes from:

• The ground and building materials around us.
• The air that we breathe.
• The food that we eat.
• Outer space (cosmic radiation)

Each medical X-ray examination gives a small additional dose on top of this natural background radiation. The most common X-ray examinations are:

• Chest
• Limbs

It is very important to tell the Radiographer if you are, or think you might be pregnant. Although X-ray examinations are considered generally safe for adults, they can be harmful to a developing foetus. Pregnant women are usually only X-rayed if it is clinically urgent.

If you are pregnant, it would be wise for you to inform your GP before your appointment, so alternative forms of imaging can be discussed, such as an ultrasound scan, where appropriate.

We offer X-rays at:

Handsworth Wood

Handsworth Wood Medical Centre, 110-114 Church Lane, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, B20 2ES